Chapter 16

To say that Hiccup was nervous for the past three days was an understatement. He went about helping Gobber and some of the other Berkians with their tasks but one thought still kept nagging him. 'My date with Astrid is tonight and I have no idea what to expect!'

Astrid had been pretty tight-lipped about how the date would go. She did promise that they would be meeting 'in person' for it and that he shouldn't worry and let her plan this one, but Hiccup was worried. Even Fishlegs noticed it when he came back to their now shared rooms at night.

"Hiccup chill," Fishlegs said as he was playing some type of game on a holographic screen. It looked like a worm or a snake that kept getting bigger.

"How can I chill?" Hiccup asked. "I've never been on a date before. Heck, what even applies as an ordinary date?" He then asked. "You can't even take a girl for a ride anymore on an ATV without the scenario of being attacked by raiders.

"I think Astrid was right to plan this date. You are way too nervous." Fishlegs said and then frowned as his snake bumped into its own body and the 'Game Over' sign flashed. "Hiccup, just relax," Fishlegs, the ever calm one, said.

"Right..... Right.... Relax." Hiccup mumbled. "I'm just going to go to my room.

"Have fun!" Fishlegs said as Hiccup made his way across the living room. The door to his room opened automatically and once it was closed behind him he asked "Can you at least give me a hint of what you're planning?"

"You wanted to see me right?" Astrid spoke through the headset.

"YES! Of course!"Hiccup answered with a blush. "But how?"

"Why don't you let me worry about the intricate details Hiccup." Astrid chuckled. "All I need you to do is to lie on the bed and fall asleep."

"Wait what?" Hiccup asked confused. Astrid chuckled and he supposed it was part of the surprise she had in store. He took a deep breath and went to the bed. No time like the present to go on a date with an A.I. he supposed. As he laid down and stared at the ceiling that was illuminated in artificial light he started to drift off. The events of the day were catching up to him and with one final yawn he started to drift off.

"Hiccup......"

"Hiccup........ Wake up....." A female voice pricked his ears as he was gently shaken awake. He opened his green eyes a fraction and he saw the blurry image of a woman standing over him. His eyes widened and he sat up rather suddenly, knocking his forehead against his by accident.

"Ouch!" they both said as Hiccup finally got a good look at her. She was a bit shorter than him, azure eyes, blonde hair done up in an intricate bun and for some reason she was wearing a lot of leather. And boy did he mean a lot. Hiccup's eyes traveled downwards and he took in the very form-fitting and stylish leather jumpsuit. There was a zipper on the front and it was pulled down just enough to show off her neck and collarbones but not her........ Bust. Hiccup blushed when he realized she was sitting on him, with her legs on either side of his hips.

"Uh..... uhm... eh..... Who...... who are you?" Hiccup managed to sputter as his face glowed at the compromising position. The woman stood up, her black heeled boots clicking slightly as she offered Hiccup a hand. Hiccup took it hesitantly and was pulled up with surprising strength.

"Take a guess Hiccup," The woman smiled as she twirled. "How do you like my look?"

"A.....ASTRID!" Hiccup choked out as his eyes widened. "Who.... what ha... how!!!" Hiccup's eyes then widened further when he realized that the entire area around him was pure white. "Where am I even?!"

"You're in my loading program right now." Astrid answered calmly as Hiccup looked around. "Well this is the loading program for the device before you can gain access to my terminal network."

"I'm inside a computer?"

"Yes Hiccup," Astrid smiled. "You look good in leather by the way."

Hiccup's eyes widened and he looked down. Sure enough he was wearing leather pants, a T-shirt and a black leather jacket. "These feel like actual clothes. How? And......How am I seeing you?"

"I've recalibrated the device to access your subconscious." Astrid explained. "Right now you are sleeping but also connected to my network. What you are seeing is the mental projection of yourself."

"And..... And... that's your mental projection?" Hiccup asked as Astrid put a hand on her leather-clad hip. "Wow... you look... you look amazing."

Astrid's cheeks tinged pink as she let out a little cough before saying "Why thank you Hiccup."

"How did you chose this mental image?" Hiccup asked. "Sorry, if I'm prying a bit. I'm just curious."

"You can ask." Astrid told him. "It's rather odd. Ever since I was made I've been partial to this image. It just feels...... right." Astrid said. "But enough about that. Are you ready for the date?" She was quite excited as she grabbed Hiccup's hand. Hiccup blushed and nearly stumbled over his steps as a wooden door suddenly appeared.

"Astrid what is this space exactly? Doors don't just suddenly appear!" Hiccup asked.

"It's the space where I can load anything needed for my simulations." Astrid smiled. "Here, let me show you." Astrid said and as she and Hiccup stood close together rows upon rows of plants appeared suddenly.

"OH MY THOR!" Hiccup gasped as he looked around at the different types of plants. Most he had never even seen in his life.

"Normally these would be my weapons racks but today I filled them with flowers!!"

"I can smell them! How? They aren't supposed to be real." Hiccup's eyes widened.

"What is real Hiccup?" Astrid asked as she cocked her head to the left. "How do you define real? If it's what you can hear, see, taste or smell, those are merely electrical impulses interpreted by your brain. The device you're wearing has been recalibrated to interpret those signals that your subconscious experiences and relay them to your brain."

"How is it even possible to sustain all of this?" Hiccup asked. "Surely that little device doesn't have that much of a power supply."

"It doesn't need to." Astrid stated. "The body is basically a liquid electrical circuit. You've been powering that device all on your own."

Hiccup nodded as Astrid was more than happy to explain the process but then something dawned on him. "Did you say they used to be weapons racks!"

Hiccup gasped when he and Astrid finally managed to make it through the door. Gone was the white room and instead they were standing in a busy metropolis.

"Hiccup welcome to New York in the 21st century." Astrid smiled. There were hundreds if not thousands of people milling about, more than Hiccup had ever seen gathered in one place. He stared open-mouthed at the scenery for a moment.

"This is New York?" Hiccup asked. "The first lost city?" He had only heard tales about this place.

"Well it was nicknamed the Big Apple. My historical data however has no clue what a city and a gigantic fruit have in common. But I assume you are referring to it being the first city to be swallowed up by the floods?" Hiccup nodded, still in complete awe.

"How about we turn back the clock a bit," Astrid smiled as the simulation stopped for a second and flickered. It took Hiccup only one or two blinks before he was staring at the same city yet with a completely different vibe to it. Gone were the freakishly tall buildings and busy traffic. The skyline was looked completely different, with only a few buildings rising above all the other highrises, and instead there were very antiquated automobiles and buses driving about. Models he had never even seen before.

"This is New York, say around 1955," Astrid told him. They too had suddenly changed clothes. Hiccup was now dressed in a brown three-piece suit with leather shoes whole Astrid wore a blue polka-dotted halter strap dress with matching heels. On her head was now also a blue beret. To say that Hiccup was speechless was an understatement.

"Now we can start our date for real!" Astrid enthusiastically said as she guided Hiccup somewhere. "Our first stop! THE BRONX ZOO! THEN THE APOLLO!"

AN: Next update will be Monday! XD